Comment

Comment by Terry Herman on September 13, 2009 at 3:21pm

Let's hear it for dirty towels....and those hideous new mercury-laden light bulbs that give an orange after-glow...actually, most places I review are way beyond the superficiality of being green in the area of laundering linens...you'd be surprised to learn, if you just would ask the right people...of course, I'm always a bit suspicious of those that toot their own horns on how goody-goody they are along these lines, and that includes businesses and individuals...

Comment by José Balido on September 13, 2009 at 1:27pm

Personally, I agree with all of you... I think we have to live as "green" as possible in our own lives, and support those businesses that put "green" first, but in a meaningful, quantifiable way. I don't want to disparage the offsets industry without closer analysis, but it does leave one with a whiff of the organic end result of bovine digestion. So let's not rush to assume no saplings are being planted when well-meaning travelers fork over $$$ to "reduce" their carbon footprint. The whole topic does need a closer look for sure.

On a related front, I'm always amused by hotel bathroom signs asking us to hang up our towels if we want to re-use them and leave them on the floor if we want them changed, as a way of saving oodles of gallons of detergent-laced waste water, thus saving the lives of adorable critters large and small. My question is: HAS A SINGLE HUMAN BEING EVER RETURNED TO THEIR HOTEL ROOM TO FIND THEIR USED DAMP TOWELS HANGING ON THE RACK???

Seems to me that, despite the feel-good signs that create an aura of benevolent greenliness (I know that's not a word!), hotels know that their guests want fluffy dry towels when they come back to the room, and that's that.

Any thoughts?

Comment by Allan Lynch on September 13, 2009 at 9:38am

First, I think we should start by living as "green" as possible. Look in your own homes, at your own habits first.

Jose's friend probably doesn't consider how green it is to work from home or carry your office on your back, vs commuting to work.

I've long been suspicious of those carbon offset companies, and if you read the British press, so have they. They've been sounding the alarm bells for almost two years on this.

There are so many other things that can be done to make travel greener. 15 years ago I wrote about how Fairmont Hotels had "greened their bottom line" for a business magazine. Fairmont not only went green, they cut their operating costs substantially, so that every green initiative paid for itself in months. They did things like replace elevators, wrap heating pipes, switch hours for doing the laundry. It wasn't rocket science, but every property in the chain probably reduced their operating costs between 15-20%! Some even more! They actually have a whole department for environmental operations.

I'm afraid that a lot of the green movement is too busy preaching to the converted and not fully aware of what is happening and has happened. Can we do more? Of course. But with travel comes knowledge. That knowledge can help us import ideas for a better world, a better life, a better planet. Travel can help us see what works, what doesn't. And one of the greenest things we can do is get to know each other better so we have less reliance on war. I am old enough to remember a famous poster from the Vietnam era which read: war is not healthy for children or other living things.

Comment by Lise Tyrrell on September 12, 2009 at 9:40pm

I run an ecotourism directory and I've often thougth that those places offering carbon offsets are really just a means of making people feel guilty and serve no useful function except to make money. We live in a global world and it would wreak havock if we stopped travelling. I think by staying at hotels than encompass ecotourism, we are making a difference...not by spending money on some nebulous promise that a tree will be planted.

Comment by José Balido on September 11, 2009 at 2:19pm

Good points, MA & T. And I do think there's a great article (and possibly exposé!) in the "carbon offsets" industry... Definitely something to look into!

Comment by Terry Herman on September 11, 2009 at 1:55pm

Thanks Mary Alice. A serious issue for sure, but not one warranting advocating no travel. In my travel articles I interject aspects of the eco-emphasis. Most hotels, resorts or spas I review are taking measures to make a contribution in this effort and to reduce their carbon foot-print. This includes properties in the U.S. and overseas. The choice to travel or not (and for whatever reasons) is just that, a choice.

Comment by Mary Alice Kellogg on September 11, 2009 at 1:09pm

I'm with Terry all the way. And yes, your "friend" is not only as green as a head of lettuce ... she's just as intelligent. Tell her to lay her guilt trip on other professions and if she's that concerned she should stay in her apartment and walk everywhere and never see the true gift of this planet: its places and people.
Jose, I think there's a good story in whether those who say they're planting saplings, etc. are doing it. So do it!

Comment by Terry Herman on September 11, 2009 at 11:17am

Sorry, but I think this would be ridiculous to suggest to people to travel less due to global warming. Many are already doing this due to the economy. Exactly what type of travel would this individual have others do? How would something like this impact local economies, employment, families, etc.? If these aspects aren't to be taken into consideration, then the premise is null. There are plenty of writers and travel organizations dedicated to eco-friendly travel and tourism. Perhaps this individual isn't aware of them? On a related, albeit stretch connection, I've heard of some who advocate reducing the number of kids born to also reduce the effects of global warming. Sooner or later, it will be a really silly season and it's fast approaching already with these two instances.

Comment by José Balido on September 11, 2009 at 9:25am

Help! Got an e-mail from a friend last night who's so green she could pass for a head of lettuce... asking me if we travel journalists aren't contributing to global warming by encouraging people to travel. Wow. My first reaction was to tell her about those carbon offsets you can buy based on the "footprint" your particular trip leaves (not that I've bought any!). But I decided I'd better do my homework before writing back, and frankly, after reading up on the subject, I have as many questions as I did at the beginning. Yes, you can buy offsets from companies that claim to plant happy little saplings to clean up the air, but... how do we know that they really do? What percent of my $$$ do they use for administrative costs? Are they for- or non-profit? And is it better, as some say, to simply travel less? And if so, are we travel writers helping degrade the Earth?

This is admittedly a mighty touchy topic for us travel writer types......... What do you guys think? Should we encourage people to travel less??? Or more responsibly? To take the train rather than a road trip, for example? And are those carbon offsets just a waste of money? Your opinions are highly appreciated!

Here's an interesting read on the subject.

Comment by Allan Lynch on September 2, 2009 at 6:36pm

I don't understand why gun-carrying citizens should be allowed near a President when American troops have the firing pins from their weapons removed before they can appear in the area of the President. (That is a little something the Secret Service insists on.)

I could care less what Arthur Frommer says. He's not a force in Canada. But I do mind people, other than the police, carrying guns in public.

As for what Malcom X espoused, in a perverted way I wonder how much differently other races (within America and outside it) might think the same of a Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld? Henry Kissinger can't leave the US for fear of being arrested and tried for things he did in office.

Look, hunt if you wish. Have a gun in your home if you wish. But if the streets are so dangerous you feel the need to carry a gun, then either elect people who will clean up the problem or move. Destinations like Arizona have to be aware that other nationalities and cultures find the display of guns on the streets, stores, and other public places uncomfortable and threatening.

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